A fan's review of 2015-16: 'Plenty to be excited about'

How different this review might have been. Had the game in Basel ended at half-time, we would be playing in the Champions League next season, we would have our first European trophy in 11 years, and the season would be an overwhelming success.

However, games don’t end at half-time – as we are well aware – and instead the season ends with two final defeats and an eighth-place finish in the Barclays Premier League.

Such are the small margins in sport.

Of course, making it to two finals can only benefit every player and build a hunger in the squad to go one better next time around. There is plenty to be optimistic about.

The season had started with great optimism. In came the likes of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino – another Brazilian star ready to light up the league – and wins against Stoke City and Bournemouth, followed by a draw at Arsenal, boded well for the season ahead.

But then came a momentum-halting home defeat by West Ham United and a 3-1 loss at Old Trafford, and in early October it was confirmed that the club had parted company with Brendan Rodgers.

Fans will not forget some of the great moments the Northern Irishman brought the club, with the thrilling 2013-14 season he oversaw the closest a lot of younger Liverpool fans have ever come to watching their team win the league.

Jürgen Klopp took over the reins and the charismatic German immediately made a huge impression with his enormous personality, passionate reactions on the touchline and – most importantly – a reputation as one of the best managers in the game.

In his first few months in charge there were plenty of great moments of the like fans had hoped for when Klopp came into the role. A 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a 4-1 victory at Manchester City were some of the best performances this current crop has ever produced.

There were, of course, some disappointing moments in his early months. In the league we lost to Newcastle and at Watford, while February saw an exit in the FA Cup at the Boleyn Ground and a Capital One Cup final defeat at Wembley.

The campaign ended with another heartbreaking showpiece loss against Sevilla after such a good opening half, but the dramatic Europa League run was still the highlight of the season.

Eliminating Manchester United in the second leg at Old Trafford with that Philippe Coutinho chip was a magical moment, and then the heroic comeback against Borussia Dortmund as Dejan Lovren scored the winner showed what this team is capable of.

We were beaten in the final, but the journey was special and the season as a whole offered plenty of promise for what’s to come when Klopp puts his stamp on the side.

Coutinho, as his Player of the Year award would suggest, was sensational at times, while his compatriot Firmino showed his quality towards the back end of the season, especially in the Europa League.

Daniel Sturridge, who scored 13 goals this season, is looking fit and sharp again while Divock Origi evolved into a key player.

There will be no European football next season, but there is plenty for us Liverpool supporters to get excited about.

If we can get to a Europa League final and beat some of Europe’s best with a team inherited by Klopp, what can be achieved with a side assembled by the manager himself?

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